Dietary and microtopographical selectivity of Greenland white-fronted geese feeding on Icelandic hayfields

The feeding ecology of Greenland white-fronted geese Anser albifrons flavirostris was studied during spring staging in Iceland 1997. Geese feeding on Purl pratense dominated hayfields (>80% cover) were highly selective, selecting for Deschampsia caespitosa which comprised only 10% of the award. Geese fed most on the south-facing fringes of Deschampsia tussocks. Subsequent analysis showed Chat the southern fringes of Deschampsia tussocks supported significantly greater biomass (27% greater mass of green material) and that leaves growing on the southern faces had significantly higher protein content than those on the northern faces (33.9% vs 30.5%). It appears that the geese maximise their nutritional intake in spring by selecting the grass species of highest quality and taking the most nutritious parts of the plants.